, the projector of a French Parnassus, was the son of one of the king’s
, the projector of a
French Parnassus, was the son of one of the king’s secretaries, and born at Paris in 1677. He studied at the Jesuits’ college in Paris, where he acquired a taste for the
belles lettres that predominated during the whole of his
life. Being destined for the military profession, he had
in his fifteenth year a company of 100 fuzileers, which bore
his name; and was afterwards a captain of dragoons. After
the peace of Ryswick, he purchased the place of maitre
d‘hotel to the dauphiness, the mother of Louis XV. Losing
this situation at her death, he took a trip to Italy, and there
improved his taste in painting, of which he was esteemed
a connoisseur. On his return he was appointed provincial
commissary at war, an office in which he conducted himself with uncommon generosity. His attachment to Louis
XIV. and his admiration of the men of genius of that monarch’s time, induced him, in 1708, to project a Parnassus,
in bronze, to commemorate the glories of his sovereign,
and the genius of the most celebrated poets and musicians.
This was no hasty performance, however, for he did not
complete his plan before 1713. This Parnassus was nothing else than a mountain, with a good elevation, on which
appeared Louis XIV. in the character of Apollo, crowned
with laurels, and holding a lyre in his hand. Beneath him
were the three French graces, madame de la Suze, madame
des Houlieres, and mademoiselle de Scuderi. Round this
Parnassus was a grand terras, on which were eight poets
and a musician; namely, Peter Corneille, Moliere, Racan,
Segrais, La Fontaine, Chapelle, Racine, Boileau, and Lully.
Inferior poets were commemorated by medallions. Boileau
is said to have been Tillet’s adviser in some part of this
scheme, and, his biographer says, it were to be wished
that celebrated poet had likewise advised him as to the
selection of those on whom he was conferring immortality.
His next object was to get this Parnassus erected in some
public place or garden. He proposed the scheme therefore to Desforts, the minister then at the head of the ’finances, and asked only, by way of bonus, the place of farmer-general; but Desforts contented himself with praising
his disinterestedness. Disappointed in this, he published,
in 1727, a description of his work under the title of “Le
Parnasse Francois,
” Essai sur les honneurs accordés aux Savaiis,
” 12mo.